Roughly a decade in the making, the East Tennessee Christian Home & Academy shoe drive has been able to burn up the pavement in donations thanks to the public.

Ron Marvel, ETCHA Director of Development, announced the academy was able to cap off another successful drive, raising between 6,000 to 8,000 pounds worth of shoes that will be distributed to children across the globe, ranging from the United States, Haiti and Africa. Marvel added that Dove Ministries has already stopped by to pick up the first shipment of shoes. Marvel and students were able to bag the last pair of shoes Wednesday, which will go off for distribution at the end of the week.

“We’re very grateful for the community getting this all together and helping us facilitate this project,” Marvel said. “I just think it is an awesome thought that a kid in Africa, Haiti or even in a portion of the United States could get their first pair of shoes because of what the community has done by partnering with us.”

Marvel also pointed out the community support has allowed the academy to gather roughly 15,000 pounds of shoes over the past two years.

“Again, I can’t say enough about the support,” he said. “It has been a blessing.”

The drive is a way to have students get activity in recreational work and community service, while having an opportunity to benefit the facility.

Every 20 cents per pound of shoes donated goes directly back into the academy.

“A portion of the proceeds goes back into the girls’ recreational account to allow us to offer different services for our students,” he said.

During the course of each donation cycle, the facility and Northeast Community Credit Union serve as dropoff sites for shoes. Marvel added the facility is already gearing up to participate in next year’s cycle of shoe donations.

ETCHA was founded in the 1940s and serves as a ministry for at-risk girls and families within the region. The facility is nonprofit and receives donations to help with operational costs and other activities.

“We have a golf tournament August 11 and teams are signing up now,” Marvel said. “We’re still looking for team and hole sponsors.”

Opportunities are available for people looking to assist. For more information, visit etcha.org or call (423) 542-4423. Updates on events at the facility are also featured on the ETCHA Facebook page.